Autocar India
2h

I am looking to buy an SUV / compact SUV with a budget of around Rs 25 lakh. I have been using a 2014 Honda City i-VTEC CVT VX for the last 12 years with zero issues and have been really happy with it. The car has run just under 40,000km till date, as my monthly driving is only around 300km, mostly in the city. My spouse and I are not big car enthusiasts, so we do not know much about technical aspects, including engines and the like. Also, I am not a very big fan of too many digital controls on the dashboard. I need a good, spacious car with good exterior and interior quality and decent features.

Verified
1h
The Hyundai Creta would be the best fit for your requirements. Coming from a Honda City that has served you reliably for 12 years, it sounds like you value hassle-free ownership, comfort and practicality over outright performance or flashy technology. This Hyundai car offers a spacious cabin, comfortable ride, refined petrol automatic, and a proven ownership experience, making it one of the easiest SUVs to recommend. The SX variant strikes the best balance between features and value, while the SX(O) is worth considering if you want a few additional convenience and safety features.
If you prefer something familiar and your running remains 300km a month, the Honda Elevate ZX CVT is another excellent choice. It retains the Honda refinement and simplicity you're already used to, has physical controls for most functions and doesn't overwhelm you with digital interfaces.
Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Creta

10s

I am stuck between taigun 1.5 sport and seltos diesel at xline top model I have used polo and vento AT in past so my love of VW is making me confused

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More questions on similar cars

4d

I mostly drive in the city to commute to my workplace. My daily commute is around 20 km, and my annual running is about 10,000 km. I currently own a Hyundai Creta Manual. Can you suggest an upgrade, preferably an automatic, with decent city mileage?

Verified
1d

With a 20km daily city commute and around 10,000km a year, your usage is predominantly urban and not high enough to justify a diesel. The priority should be a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and ease of driving in traffic. Since you are upgrading from a Creta manual, the natural step up would be a midsize SUV with a reliable automatic gearbox.The Kia Seltos IVT petrol is the most sensible recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is smooth, reliable and well-suited to city driving, and the Seltos is a well-rounded package with good comfort, features and a premium feel. It is essentially the same mechanical package as the Creta but feels like a more substantial upgrade in terms of cabin quality and overall experience.If you are open to a slightly different approach, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is also worth considering. The hybrid system delivers excellent city fuel efficiency and a very smooth driving experience, which is ideal for stop-start traffic. It is not as powerful as the Seltos, but it makes up for it with lower running costs and a more relaxed driving character.Between the two, the Seltos IVT is the safer and more premium-feeling upgrade, while the Victoris Hybrid is the more economical and city-friendly option. Both are strong choices, but given your upgrade from a Creta, the Seltos IVT feels like the more natural progression.

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1w

Hi Team, I am currently driving a 2020 Maruti Suzuki Baleno and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My shortlisted options are the Honda Elevate, Tata Harrier, and Mahindra XUV 7XO. My daily drive involves around 35 to 40 kms in heavy Bangalore city traffic, along with occasional highway trips. My primary priority is a car with a solid 5-star safety rating, along with good ride comfort and easy city drivability. Coming from a lightweight hatchback, I am looking for an option that offers a clear step up in safety and space without feeling overly cumbersome during my daily urban commute. Could you please evaluate these three models based on my usage and suggest the best option and engine-transmission combination for me?

Verified
2d

Based on your usage, the Honda Elevate CVT is actually the best fit for your needs among your shortlist. With a 35-40 km commute in heavy Bangalore traffic, the CVT makes life easy; the engine is responsive enough to go for gaps in traffic, and the steering is light in the city. Importantly, this Honda car is not so large as to become cumbersome to drive in tight city traffic, which is important to you. The Tata Harrier and Mahindra XUV 7XO are both physically larger, making them slightly more cumbersome to drive in traffic. Their petrol powertrains are also quite thirsty in the city, while their diesel engines do not suit your city-heavy usage, likely requiring additional highway trips just to keep the DPF happy.If you want an alternative similar to the Elevate, the Kia Seltos is a strong choice. It has a 5-star safety rating, is very well equipped in terms of features, and its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with the IVT offers a smooth, relaxing drive in the city.

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5d

Hello Autocar, I'm planning to buy an EV with a budget of around Rs. 20-22 lakh (ex-showroom). Although I can stretch it a bit if it's worth it. The models that I'm currently considering are Tata Sierra Adventure 75, Tata Harrier EV Adventure 65 and Mahindra XEV 9e 59 kWh (base variant). My usage will be around 70% city driving. I also own a 2025 Hyundai Creta Petrol CVT, so I'm looking for an EV that genuinely feels like an upgrade rather than just a different powertrain. Among these, I liked the XEV 9e the most, but I'm a bit concerned about the long-term practicality and battery life of the 59 kWh pack, since it's the smallest battery among the three. Which one would you recommend, and is there any other EV in this price range that I should consider?

Verified
3d

Go for the Mahindra XEV 9e 59 kWh. It is the most complete electric car from the ones you're considering and will genuinely feel like an upgrade over your Creta. The Sierra and Harrier EV are good cars, but the XEV 9e feels more premium, more modern and more sorted as an overall package. Going for the smaller 59 kWh battery should not be a concern since it is still a large pack, and Mahindra’s battery management system is well engineered. The car is also more efficient than the Tata EVs, so real-world range is not as far behind as the numbers would suggest. The only reason to stretch to the larger battery is if you regularly do very long highway runs. For your 70% city usage, the 59 kWh pack is more than sufficient. The Sierra EV is the better Tata EV, but the XEV 9e is the better car overall.

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5d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

Verified
5d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

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Posted on: 3 Aug 2026